Last week, I shared our journey building the iPatient app and how we’re gamifying healthcare access. This week, I want to dive into a fascinating conversation I recently had.
The Young Adult Insurance Gap
I was fortunate to recently e-meet the Director of a state health insurance agency in Nigeria, and what he shared left me both intrigued and concerned. Among over 200,000 people currently insured by the state, less than 5% were young adults aged 18-32. And within that small percentage? The majority were women of child-bearing age – suggesting that many only seek coverage when family planning becomes a priority.
These numbers tell a powerful story about how disconnected young Nigerians are from health insurance systems.
It’s Not About Desire, It’s About Design
The problem isn’t that Nigerians don’t want health insurance – it’s that the current models don’t reflect how most people actually experience healthcare here.
Most Nigerians simply don’t understand how insurance works, and those who do have often been disappointed with their provider experiences. Stories of convoluted claim processes, unexpected exclusions buried in fine print, and frustrating authorization delays for urgent care are quite typical of HMOs.
After seeing insurance companies delay or deny claims, patients develop what I call “premium anxiety” – the fear they’re paying for protection that won’t materialize when needed. It’s like buying an umbrella that only opens on sunny days.
The Prevention Paradox
For most young adults who clearly appreciate the importance of health insurance intellectually, very few find it valuable enough to prioritize in their monthly budgets. They prefer to pay out-of-pocket, often delaying care until absolutely necessary – creating what healthcare economists call the “prevention paradox.”
The people who most need preventive care to avoid expensive treatments later are precisely the least likely to afford it upfront. The Director shared that emergency care costs in his state are approximately 4-6 times higher than what preventive interventions would have cost – a crushing financial burden that perpetuates cycles of healthcare poverty.
Where iPatient.app Fits Into This Puzzle
This is exactly where I believe iPatient is uniquely positioned to make a difference. We’re addressing the three critical barriers to insurance adoption among young Nigerians:
1. Awareness gap: Our health quizzes, research surveys and interactive content educate users about insurance concepts in engaging, jargon-free ways.
2. Engagement barrier: By gamifying health interactions and providing immediate rewards, we’re creating positive associations with healthcare planning.
3. Access hurdle: Our points-based system provides a gradual on-ramp to insurance products that might otherwise seem financially out of reach for most people.
Our goal isn’t to simply push traditional insurance products that aren’t working. Instead, we’re exploring partnerships with forward-thinking insurance stakeholders to integrate our points-based system as an alternative healthcare financing mechanism – one that resonates with how our target demographic actually makes decisions.
Building Bridges, Not Just Apps
During our conversation, the Director mentioned something that stuck with me: “The future of health insurance in Nigeria isn’t about better policies – it’s about better bridges between young people’s daily digital habits and their healthcare needs.”
That’s exactly what we’re building with iPatient – not just an app, but a bridge between the digital experiences young Nigerians already love and the healthcare protection they objectively need.
As we ramp up volunteer recruitment for beta-testing in preparation for our MVP launch, I realize our work has only just begun. But conversations like the one with the Director remind me why this work matters so deeply.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on health insurance – have you had experiences, good or bad, with providers in Nigeria? What would make insurance more appealing to you? Your insights help us build something truly valuable.
P.S:
We’re hosting a virtual focus group next month specifically on health insurance experiences among young Nigerians. If you’d like to participate (and earn early iPatient.app points!), email info@patient.ng with subject “Insurance Focus Group” and we’ll send you the details.
